Heavy blow for Left Front before results, former minister Ahamed Devarkovil to join League

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reports said former minister and INL leader Ahmed Devarkovil will be joining the Muslim League. As per the report, preliminary discussions were already held and a decision will be taken after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are out. K M Shaji of the Muslim League is holding talks with Devarkovil. However, Shaji told a private channel that no official discussions were held.

Meantime, Devarkovil said there is no truth in the news circulating and that he will stick to the INL and the Left Front. He also said that his opinion on the Samastha-League issue may have been misunderstood. He said that the Samastha-League issue should be resolved amicably and that some people are trying to take advantage of the dispute between the two parties. This was against the policies of the CPM. CPM said the league is trying to hijack Samastha.

There were reports earlier that the CPM was not very interested in the functioning of the INL. This was due to the factionalism in the party and the squabbles that followed.

The CPM was angered by the altercation in the party meeting held in Kochi in 2021 and subsequent expulsion of each other. At this stage, there were also reports that the CPM and the Left Front were planning to take back the ministerial post.

A section of the party alleged that Kasim Irikkur had taken a bribe of Rs 40 lakh for PSC membership, which angered the CPM. The CPM needed to keep the INL with it as the League leadership was trying to establish dominance among the Muslim organizations. That is why the CPM intervened and settled the disputes and moved ahead.

Meanwhile, the League tried to bring a section of the INL and bring it to the old turf. Th news is that it has almost succeeded. Some sources indicate that he will not leave the LDF immediately, but will happen before the assembly elections.

Ahmed Devarkovil, who was the Minister of Ports and Museums and Archeology in the second Pinarayi government, resigned last December as part of the cabinet reshuffle. Transport Minister Antony Raju had also resigned along with him. After submitting his resignation, he told the media that he is completing the term with complete satisfaction and that LDF made him the minister.